You probably don’t think about your gutters very often, but they’re an important part of your home’s drainage system. If your gutters are clogged with debris or built-up with leaves and other debris, they can lead to water pooling around your foundation.
This can cause serious damage over time—and it’s a problem that is easy to fix! In this article, we’ll cover what causes overflowing gutters and how you can get them back under control.
Clean Gutters
Once you’ve reached the gutter, there are several ways to remove debris.
- Use a ladder or step stool to reach the gutters. This can be dangerous and is not recommended for people with physical limitations.
- Use a power washer to remove debris from your rain gutters and downspouts. A power washer is not recommended if you have an aluminum roof because it may cause damage over time, but it’s fine on plastic or wood gutters. Be sure to wear protective eyewear when using this tool because of its high water pressure (PSI). Never aim the nozzle at yourself or anything else that could cause injury if hit by flying water droplets!
- Use a sponge soaked with warm soapy water in order to clean out any remaining dirt within your rain gutters after removing all debris by hand.
Install a Gutter Guard
A gutter guard is a great way to keep leaves and other debris out of your gutters. Gutters are designed to let water easily flow through them, but when leaves and other trash get stuck in the gutters it can cause a backup that leads to an overflowing gutter.
You may be able to keep these out of your gutters by installing a gutter guard, which is usually made from plastic or metal and covers at least half of each downspout outlet. Some guards can be removed for cleaning purposes, while others are permanent fixtures that will require you to sweep them out instead.
Replace the Gutter System
If you have an overflowing gutter, it’s probably time to replace the system. Gutters are designed to carry water away from your home and not hold it for long periods of time.
If the gutters are clogged with debris or severely damaged, they may be unable to do their job properly and could even become a hazard if they start leaking into your home.
While it’s possible to clean out your existing gutters, doing so will only buy you a little bit of time before they fail again. It’s best to replace them with new ones that are more efficient and attractive as well!
You can do this by purchasing replacement gutter systems at any home improvement store in your area; these come in several styles including flat boxes (which are similar in appearance), round tubes (which look like small cylinders) and rectangular channels (which resemble thin sheets).
You just need one type per side—normally there will be two sides on each house—so pick whichever appeals most aesthetically while still meeting all of the requirements mentioned above.
Replace the Drainage System
Changing your drainage system will be the best solution to a clogged gutter. Typical siphonic drainage systems, such as those by Capcon Eng, are self-cleaning. These systems are designed to remove water from your roof without the need for pumps or other mechanical devices.
Siphonic systems can cost anywhere between $1,500 and $15,000 depending on what type of system you want to be installed and where you live, but the good news is that homeowners insurance often covers part or all of this cost!
When a gutter overflows, it’s not always because the gutters are too small to handle the amount of water that comes down the roof. Sometimes, when your drainage system is backed up with debris or leaves, it can cause a backup of water in your gutters.
Re-slope Your Gutters for the Correct Pitch
If you have gutters that are sloped at an angle less than 45 degrees, they are not catching water properly. This means that they’re just flinging it straight down onto your sidewalk and driveway.
Conclusion
The best thing to do is to take care of your gutters, whether by cleaning them or upgrading them, so they don’t overflow. As you can see, there are a lot of different options for dealing with gutter overflow. It all depends on your budget and how much time you want to dedicate to the project.
Comments